Paint rolling apparatus



May 30, 1967 R. E. RICHARDSON PAINT ROLLING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1965 INVENTOR. ma/voa E. R/GHARDSO/V BY 214%? J n E 4. I .II

a J 2 m -|l!|L F 9 I //H/ V1/ 3 a. w 2 7 n 2 n 3,321,795 PAINT ROLLING APPARATUS Randel E. Richardson, 4822 Holt Drive, Memphis, Tenn. 38116 Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 465,405 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-510) This invention relates generally to paint applying devices or apparatuses, and particularly to such apparatus of the so-called paint roller type.

An object of the present invention is to provide paint rolling apparatus for applying paint in an even or uniformly distributed coat.

A further object is to provide a paint rolling apparatus of simple design and uncomplicated structure, and such apparatus that is easy to use and clean and is durable.

A further object is to provide such paint rolling apparatus that does not have complicated parts to get out of order or intricate passages to become stopped with paint.

A further object is to provide in such apparatus a lightweight paint rolling head part, and such a head part that requires minimum efiort to use in applying the paint.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic showing of the paint rolling apparatus positioned as in use.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the paint roller head part of the apparatus taken as on the line IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as on the line I IIIII of FIG. 2. r

FIG. 4 is an elevational side view of the roller with the paint absorbent outer sleeve or cover member removed.

The paint rolling apparatus of the present invention is indicated generally by numeral 11 and includes, basically, a combination paint rolling head and handle part 13, a paint reservoir 15, compressed air tank means 17, tubing 19 connecting head part 13 and reservoir 15', and tubing 21 connecting the reservoir with air tank 17.

The present invention concerns primarily the head part 13 of paint apparatus 11. Thus, in the following specification, the description will be primarily directed toward the head part. It'will be understood that the arrangement of paint reservoir 15 and air tank means 17 may be other than that shown in FIG. 1 and may be any suitable structure which will supply paint to the head part at a substantially slight and constant pressure.

Head part 13 includes, basically, a substantially large hollow cylindrical roller 23, a tubular handle 25 having an axle portion 27 rotatably mounting roller 23, and a substantially small cylindrical roller 29 disposed in the interior of cylindrical roller 23 and rotatably supported from handle axle portion 27. Roller 23 includes an inner core member 31 formed of plastic material and an outer sleeve member 33 formed of fabric pile or other such absorbent material. Core member 31 and sleeve member 33 are concentrically arranged and sungly fitted together in a somewhat typical manner. Core member 31 includes a cup-shaped barrel part 35 and an annular end part 37. Barrel part ,y35'is preferably integrally formed and in cludes an annular base portion 39 and a cylindrical peripheral portion 41. A plurality of uniformly spaced apertures 43 are provided around the cylindrical periphery of portion 41 of core member barrel part 35. Core member annular end part 37 includes a circumferential groove which provides a circumferential flange portion 45. Axially aligned bore openings 47, 49 respectively of barrel part base portion 39 and annular end part 37 rotatably journal 3,321,713? Patented May 3%, 1967 core member 31 on axle portion 27 of tubular handle 25. An annular thrust plate 51, fixedly secured on handle axle portion 27, and a wing nut 53 adjust and prevent axial displacement of roller 23.

Roller 29 is preferably constructed of somewhat resilient rubber material. Roller 29 is tubular and is providcd with a bore opening 55. A pair of opposingly arranged tubular stub members 57 are fixedly secured to and extend perpendicularly from axle portion 27 of tubular handle 25. A U-shaped axle member 59 rotatably supports tubular roller 29. The oppositely disposed end portions 61 of axle member 59 extend into and freely fit respectively in the bore openings of tubular stub members 57. Annular plate members 63 are fixedly secured respectively to end portions 61 of axle member 59. Coiled compression springs 65 are convolutely fitted respectivel around tubular stub members 57 and end portions 61 of axle member 59. Springs 65 opposingly engage respectively plate members 63 and handle axle portion 27 and resiliently urge the outer cylindrical surface 67 of roller 29 against the inner cylindrical surface 69 of core member 31.

A substantially small-bore U-shaped conduit or feed tube 71 is fixedly secured from axle portion 27 of handle 25. The inlet end portion 73 of conduit 71 extends through an aperture in the wall of axle portion 27 and communicates the bore passage of conduit 71 with the interior passage of tubular handle 25. Feed tube 71 is arranged in such a manner that the outlet end portion 75 is disposed centrally of roller 29 and adjacent the interior surface 69 of core member 31.

In operation, the liquid paint being applied by the apparatus of the present invention flows through the shank portion 77 of tubular handle 25, into the axle portion 27 of the handle, through conduit 71 and onto the interior surface 69 of core member 31. (The flow of the paint is indicated by arrows in the drawings.) A plug 7% is snugly fitted in the bore of tubular handle axle portion 27 adjacent inlet end portion 73 of conduit 71. Plug '79 directs the flow of paint through conduit 71. A thumb-operable control valve 81, fitted in tubular handle 25, controls the passage of paint through the handle and determines the amount of paint supplied in the interior of roller 23. Valve 81 is preferably of the well known screw type which can be set at any desired opening and will remain at this setting.

The paint rolling apparatus of the present invention is used in a typical manner by manually manipulating roller 23 along the surface of a wall or the surface being painted. (A wall surface is indicated in the drawings by the letter S.) When applying paint to a wall surface, head part 13 is preferably held in such a manner that the outlet end por tion 75 of conduit 71 is disposed over roller 29, or in such a way that paint issuing from conduit 71 flows on roller 29 and is dispensed uniformly along the interior surface of roller 23. Head part 13 also is preferably held in such a manner that roller 29 is adjacent surface S of the wall or the surface being painted. With reference to the drawings, the advantage derived from positioning the head part in such a way that roller 29 is adjacent the surface being painted may be readily seen. When positioned in such a way, roller 29 functions somewhat as a back-up roller and prevents paint from being squeezed from absorbent sleeve member 33 back through apertures 43 and back into the interior of roller 23. When applying paint on rough surfaces, roller 29, acting as a backup roller, functions in such a manner as to cause the paint being applied to flow into the crevices of the surface. Since only a small amount of paint is carried in roller 23 of head part 13, the head part is easily manipulated and is less tiring to the user. A further desirable feature in the paint rolling apparatus of the present invention resides in the necessity of having only a small amount of air pressure for conducting the paint into the interior of roller 23. This feature is desirable in that it provides means Whereby only slight air pressure maintained in paint reservoir 15 is ample to provide a uniform and constant flow of paint into roller 23 and a uniform distribution on the surface being painted. This is in constrast to some of the previous applicators in which the paint filled the complete interior of the roller and was forced out under higher pressure. Roller 23 may be easily separated from the remainder of head part 13 by removing wing nut 53. When disassembled as such, the head part may be easily cleaned in a cleaning solution. In summary, the present invention provides very practical means for applying a coat of paint on a surface.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. Paint rolling apparatus for applying a coat of paint on a flat surface comprising a first roller including an axially elongated barrel having an outer cylindrical surface and an inner cylindrical surface concentric with said outer surface and with said barrel having a plurality of through apertures with each aperture intersecting said inner and outer surfaces and with said plurality of apertures being disposed respectively around the cylindrical periphery of said roller with said adjacent apertures being spaced apart circumferentially and longitudinally relative to said roller, a second roller having an outer cylindrical surface, handle support means including an axle portion rotatably supporting said first roller and a handle portion for manually manipulating said first roller, means mounting said second roller from said axle portion with said outer cylindrical surface of said second roller rotatably engaging said inner cylindrical surface of said first roller, conduit means including a conduit having an outlet end opening disposed in the interior of said first roller and adjacent the coactingly engaging surfaces of said first and second rollers, and means for supplying paint through said conduit, through said outlet opening, and on said inner cylindrical surface of said first roller and said outer cylindrical surface of said second roller.

2. Paint rolling apparatus for applying a coat of paint on a flat surface comprising a first roller including a substantially rigid inner core member including a barrel and an outer sleeve member of absorbent material concentrically fitted over said inner core member, said inner core member barrel having an inner cylindrical surface and a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced apertures in the cylindrical periphery thereof, a second small roller having an outer cylindrical surface, handle support means including an axle portion rotatably supporting said first roller, means mounting said second roller from said handle support means axle portion with said outer cylindrical surface of said second roller rotatably engaging said inner cylindrical surface of said first roller, conduit means including a conduit having an outlet end opening and with said opening being disposed in the interior of said first roller and adjacent the coactingly engaging surfaces of said first and second rollers; and means for supplying paint through said conduit, through said outlet opening, and on said inner cylindrical surface of said first roller and said outer cylindrical surface of said second roller.

3. The paint rolling apparatus of claim 2 in which said means mounting said second roller from said handle support means axle portion includes spring means for yieldably urging said outer cylindrical surface of said second roller rotatably against said inner cylindrical surface of said first roller.

4. The paint rolling apparatus of claim 3 in which said second roller extends over a major portion of the length of said first roller from adjacent one end thereof to the opposite end thereof and in which said outlet end of said conduit is disposed medially of said first roller and adjacent the medial circumferential surface portions respectively of the cylindrical surfaces of said first and second rollers.

5. A paint rolling apparatus comprising a first roller including a generally cylindrical inner core formed of substantially rigid material and including an open ended generally cylindrical sleeve member removably fitted concentrically over said inner core, a generally cylindrical tubular barrel portion and oppositely arranged annular end portions included in said first roller core with at least one of said end portions being removably engageable with an end portion of said tubular barrel portion, handle support means for rotatingly supporting and manually manipulating said first roller including a tubular axle portion and with said axle portion extending through the apertures respectively of said oppositely arranged annular end portions of said first roller and rotatingly supporting said first roller, a second small roller having an outer cylindrical surface, means mounting said second roller in the interior of said first roller with the outer cylindrical surface of said second roller being operably engaged with the inner cylindrical surface of said first roller, conduit means for conducting the paint into the hollow interior of said first roller including a feed tube having an outlet end portion disposed medially of said first roller and closely adjacent the medial circumferential surface portions respectively of the cylindrical surfaces of said first and second rollers and means for supplying paint through said conduit means, through said outlet end portion of said tube and on said inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of said first and second rollers.

6. The paint rolling apparatus of claim 5 in which said tubular axle portion in addition to rotatingly supporting said first and second rollers also constitutes a portion of said conduit means for conducting said paint into the interior of said first roller, and in which said feed tube is arranged entirely within the hollow interior of said first roller.

7. The paint rolling apparatus of claim 6 in which said feed tube is generally U-shaped and includes an inlet end portion fixedly secured on said axle portion and communicates the interior passage of said feed tube with the interior passage of said tubular axle portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 189,828 4/ 1877 Woodcock.

637,566 1 1/1899 Hett 101-367 X 2,499,026 2/1950 Johnson 15--510 2,571,064 10/1951 Schae-fer 101--120 2,964,769 12/1960 Mercereau 15562 X FOREIGN PATENTS 508,759 10/ 1930 Germany.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. PAINT ROLLING APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A COAT OF PAINT ON A FLAT SURFACE COMPRISING A FIRST ROLLER INCLUDING AN AXIALLY ELONGATED BARREL HAVING AN OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AND AN INNER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE CONCENTRIC WITH SAID OUTER SURFACE AND WITH SAID BARREL HAVING A PLURALITY OF THROUGH APERTURES WITH EACH APERTURE INTERSECTING SAID INNER AND OUTER SURFACES AND WITH SAID PLURALITY OF APERTURES BEING DISPOSED RESPECTIVELY AROUND THE CYLINDRICAL PERIPHERY OF SAID ROLLER WITH SAID ADJACENT APERTURES BEING SPACED APART CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AND LONGITUDINALLY RELATIVE TO SAID ROLLER, A SECOND ROLLER HAVING AN OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, HANDLE SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING AN AXLE PORTION ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID FIRST ROLLER AND A HANDLE PORTION FOR MANUALLY MANIPULATING SAID FIRST ROLLER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND ROLLER FROM SAID AXLE PORTION WITH SAID OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID SECOND ROLLER ROTATABLY ENGAGING SAID INNER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID FIRST ROLLER, CONDUIT MEANS INCLUDING A CONDUIT HAVING AN OUTLET END OPENING DISPOSED IN THE INTERIOR OF SAID FIRST ROLLER AND ADJACENT THE COACTINGLY ENGAGING SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ROLLERS, AND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING PAINT THROUGH SAID CONDUIT, THROUGH SAID OUTLET OPENING, AND ON SAID INNER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID FIRST ROLLER AND SAID OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID SECOND ROLLER. 